School Resource Officer Michael Taggart speaks to the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee in 2018. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS PHOTO)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Select Board members Feb. 18 supported a grant application that would bring a second school resource officer to the district.
Currently there is one resource officer at the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District. Officer Michael Taggart divides his time at the three schools in the district – Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill School and Southwick Regional School. Having an additional officer would be “an asset” said Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop.
The Community Oriented Policing Services – COPS – grant would pay most of the officer’s salary for three years. If the grant is awarded and accepted, the town would pay 25 percent of the salary for the three years and must agree to keep the officer at the schools an additional year, paying the full salary.
Bishop told Board members last week that he would reach out to the school superintendent to discuss the possibility of sharing the town’s portion of the salary or see if the other towns in the district could help fund the position.
Selectman Joseph Deedy questioned whether two resource officers were needed and if Taggart could be used in another capacity if the town received the grant.
The Southwick Police Department already utilizes five grants, including three for 911 services, one for prescription drug collection and another aimed at bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Board members agreed that Bishop should apply for the grant, which has a March 11 deadline, and further discuss the details.
